Tattletale

DEVOTION

GENESIS

TATTLETALE

Gen 9:18-23

18 The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These were the three sons of Noah, and from them came the people who were scattered over the earth. 20 Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. 21 When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father's nakedness. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father's nakedness.

NIV

There is a reason we are told that Ham was the father of Cannan, but we will not see the reason we are told that until the next portion of this narrative which we will leave to deal with on its own. What we see here is Noah returning to what he knew how to do. He certainly was not a mechanic, a worker of metals, but was a worker of the soil, an agricultural man, a farmer. Of course God was the first planter, but here we see Noah planting a vineyard. It is interesting he planted a vineyard. Why didn’t he plant corn, or wheat, or rye, or barley, or some other grain that would be used for bread or other sustenance? Why grapes? Of what value do grapes have for food, other than to make wine? Our scholars are convinced Noah did not know what wine was, that he had no clue it would produce a state of drunkenness if drank in excess. But grapes do not cause a man to get drunk unless they are fermented. Noah did not just plant a vineyard, he grew the grapes, picked them, fermented them until they became wine and then drank too much and became so drunk he feel asleep naked. This narrative has nothing to do with the drunkenness of Noah or the fact he made wine. Although it is interesting, being such a man of God, that he drank wine. We are not told that God chastised him for this practice, but the narrative deals with the response or actions of his sons toward their father. From the next portion of this narrative we know that Ham was the youngest of his sons, however the fact he was the youngest has no real bearing on what happened. Ham was the son who went into his father’s tent. We are not told the reason why Ham wanted to visit with his father, but nevertheless when he did he looked upon his father lying asleep without his cloak as a cover. What he did was wrong. He was a tattletale, he couldn’t wait to go tell his brothers what he saw their father doing. He was disrespectful to his father. Ham should have simply covered his father and went on his merry way, keeping all he saw to himself. But he did not and we see the other sons, showing respect for their father, acted in accordance with that respect. We will see in the next portion of this narrative the response from Noah when he finds out what his sons did, especially Ham. But for now we should take our lesson from Ham. We need to keep that which we see or know about another person, especially our own family, but certainly not limited to our family, to ourselves. It is a sign of disrespect to reveal any private matter regarding a person to others. Today we call that gossip.

1 Tim 5:11-13

11 As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.

NIV

Although this is instructions concerning younger widows, it would be wise for all of us to take this counsel. We would be respectful to others if we kept our tongue from speaking words we should not.

Ps 34:11-14

1 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

NIV

It is not so much that Ham spoke a lie, but his actions were evil in the sight of God, his lips caused his father both pain and anger. We need to keep our tongue from spreading any news about others that would cause them any pain, anguish or to become angry because we violated their trust. A person’s behavior is between them and God. From the narrative, we have to believe God was not disappointed or disapproved in Noah’s behavior, but we are told he was in Ham’s. Ham was in some sense passing judgement on his father’s behavior by informing his brothers. We need to be very careful and always vigilant we do not slip into this kind of behavior, informing others about the behavior of someone else. We have often said, “If we are not part of the problem, or the solution, if is none of our business”. We need to always remember our own words, but more importantly because they are based on God’s words. Keep our tongue from speaking any evil. Be careful what we say. Watch our tongue. Do not be a tattletale.